GOP leaders to skip Selma event
Source: Politico
Scores of U.S. lawmakers are converging on tiny Selma, Alabama, for a large commemoration of a civil rights anniversary. But their ranks dont include a single member of House Republican leadership a point that isnt lost on congressional black leaders.
None of the top leaders House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy or Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who was once thought likely to attend to atone for reports that he once spoke before a white supremacist group will be in Selma for the three-day event that commemorates the 1965 march and the violence that protesters faced at the hands of white police officers. A number of rank-and-file Republicans have been aggressively lobbying their colleagues to attend, and several black lawmakers concurred.
It is very disappointing that not a single Republican leader sees the value in participating in this 50th commemoration of the signing of the Voting Rights Act. I had hoped that some of the leadership would attend, but apparently none of them will, said Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina. The Republicans always talk about trying to change their brand and be more appealing to minority folks and be in touch with the interests of African-Americans. This is very disappointing.
Former CBC Chair Marsha Fudge (D-Ohio) agreed.
Not only do they have an opportunity to participate in something that is historic in this country, but certainly theyve lost an opportunity to show the American people that they care, she said. Their loss.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/gop-leaders-to-skip-selma-event-115801.html?hp=t3_r
Not exactly a surprise that GOP leaders would skip this event.
Steve Scalise, the House GOPs third-ranking member, speaks to white supremacists:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-majority-whip-scalise-confirms-he-spoke-to-white-nationalists-in-2002/2014/12/29/7f80dc14-8fa3-11e4-a900-9960214d4cd7_story.html
MADem
(135,425 posts)The only thing I can think of is that, if they're forced to think about the actual impact of their attitudes and behaviors, that they might feel a bit of .... SHAME.
And they can't deal with THAT, I guess...~!
greatlaurel
(2,004 posts)Thanks for the OP. Well done. This needs to get a lot of attention.
graegoyle
(532 posts)yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Making atonement? For his brother disenfranchising all those black voters in Florida and leaving it up to his father's Supreme Court to steal the people's election?
This is a celebration of the resulting Voting Rights Act from the horrors of 'Bloody Sunday.'
Voting rights. Why are Republicans showing up at all?
Hekate
(90,714 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)There is no other explanation.